Topical essential fatty acid oil on wounds: Local and systemic effects.

BACKGROUND: The use of medicinal plants and their derivatives is increasing, and approximately one-third of all traditional herbal medicines are intended for wound treatment. Natural products used in these treatments include vegetable oils, which are rich in essential fatty acids. Once in contact with an ulcerative surface, the oil reaches the blood and lymphatic vessels, thus eliciting systemic effects. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the local and possible systemic effects of essential fatty acids (sunflower oil) applied topically to rat wounds. METHODS: Cutaneous punch wounds (6 mm) were produced on the dorsa of 30 rats. Saline (SS), mineral oil (MO) or essential fatty acid (EFA) solutions were applied topically. Healing was evaluated after 2, 4 and 10 days (n = 5 per group) by visual and histological/morphometric examination, second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy, and cytokine and growth factor quantification in the scar tissue (real-time PCR) and in serum (ELISA). RESULTS: MO/EFA-treated animals had higher IGF-1, leptin, IL-6 and IFN-γ mRNA expression and lower serum IL-6 levels than the control (SS/MO) animals. SHG analysis showed no difference in collagen density between the animals treated with MO and EFA. CONCLUSION: EFA treatment induces topical (observed by local IGF-1, leptin, IL-6 and IFN-γ production) and systemic effects, lowering IL-6 levels in the serum. As the oil is widely used to shorten ulcer healing time, studies are needed to evaluate the treatment safety and possible undesired effects.

Topical use and systemic action of green and roasted coffee oils and ground oils in a cutaneous incision model in rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus).

INTRODUCTION: Wounds are a common health problem. Coffee is widely consumed and its oil contains essential fatty acids. We evaluated the local (skin) and systemic effects associated with the topical use of coffee oils in rats. METHODS: Punch skin wounds (6 mm) incisions were generated on the backs of 75 rats. Saline (SS), mineral oil (MO), green coffee oil (GCO), roasted coffee oil (RCO), green coffee ground oil (GCGO) or roasted coffee ground oil (RCGO) were topically applied to the wounds. Healing was evaluated by visual and histological/morphometric optical microscopy examination; second harmonics generation (SHG) microscopy, wound tissue q-PCR (values in fold-change) and blood serum (ELISA, values in pg/mL). RESULTS: RCO treated animals presented faster wound healing (0.986 vs. 0.422), higher mRNA expression of IGF-1 (2.78 vs. 1.00, p = 0.01), IL-6 (10.72 vs. 1.00, p = 0.001) and IL-23 (4.10 vs. 1.2, p = 0.05) in early stages of wound healing; higher IL-12 (3.32 vs. 1.00, p = 0.05) in the later stages; and lower serum levels of IFN-γ (11.97 vs. 196.45, p = 0.01). GCO treatment led to higher mRNA expression of IL-6 (day 2: 7.94 vs. 1.00, p = 0.001 and day 4: 6.90 vs. 1.00, p = 0.01) and IL-23 (7.93 vs. 1.20, p = 0.001) in the early stages. The RCO treatment also produced higher serum IFN-α levels throughout the experiment (day 2: 52.53 vs. 21.20; day 4: 46.98 vs.21.56; day 10: 83.61 vs. 25.69, p = 0.05) and lower levels of IL-4 (day 4: 0.9 vs.13.36, p = 0.01), adiponectin (day 10: 8,367.47 vs. 16,526.38, p = 0.001) and IFN-γ (day 4: 43.03 vs.196.45, p = 0.05). The SHG analysis showed a higher collagen density in the RCO and GCO treatments (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Topical treatment with coffee oils led to systemic actions and faster wound healing in rats. Further studies should be performed are necessary to assess the safety of topical vegetal oil use for skin lesions.

Unsaponifiable matter from oil of green coffee beans: cosmetic properties and safety evaluation.

CONTEXT: Unsaponifiable matter (UM), a fraction of green coffee oil (GCO) contains functional compounds responsible for desirable cosmetic properties such as UV-B absorption. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate oil content and sun protection factor (SPF) variability of the two most important species of coffee and, the toxic and cytotoxic effects, as well as cosmetic properties, including antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of UM obtained from green Coffea arabica seed oil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The safety and potential cosmetic properties of UM extracted from green coffee oil (GCO) were evaluated by the brine shrimp viability and the MTT cytotoxicity assays. The SPF and antioxidant activity were evaluated using in vitro methods. RESULTS: Relevant cytotoxicity was found against keratinocytes for concentrations ≥25 µg/mL and in the brine shrimp assay (LC50 24 µg/mL). Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities (IC50 1448 µg/mL) were low in UM but SPF was 10 times higher than in GCO. CONCLUSION: UM is a novel potential UV-B absorbent but its use as a cosmetic ingredient should be better considered due to the considerable cytotoxicity shown in the experimental conditions described.

Forame oval permeável e sua relação com acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico (AVC) e enxaqueca / Permeable foramen ovale and its relation to ischemic stroke (stroke)and migraine

O forame oval permite, durante o período fetal, a passagem de sangue oxigenado oriundo da placenta para o átrio direito, possibilitando oxigenação adequada do cérebro e do coração. Após o nascimento, com o início da respiração e com a desconexão da placenta, há um aumento da pressão do lado esquerdo e uma diminuição do lado direito do coração, empurrando a lâmina do forame oval para a direita, o que ocasiona o seu fechamento funcional. Entretanto, em aproximadamente 25% da população ele pode permanecer patente. Sua relação com o acidente vascular isquêmico e com enxaqueca com aura tem sido sugerida em várias publicações. Na presença de acidente vascular isquêmico idiopático, tem sido sugerido por vários autores o fechamento percutâneo do forame oval patente (FOP), quando comprovada a existência de shunt da direita para a esquerda, espontaneamente ou com manobra de Valsalva. Contudo, hã necessidade de maior tempo de observação para avaliar a sua superioridade em relação ao tratamento clínico.

Foramen ovale allows the passage, during the fetal period, of oxygenated blood coming from the placenta to the right atrium, supplying adequate oxygenation for brain and heart. After birth, with onset of breathing and disconnection of the placenta, there are an increased pressure on the left side ofthe heart and a decreasing in its right side pushing the blade of the foramen ovale to the right, causing its functional closure. However, the patent foramen ovale (PFO) occurs in approximately 25% of the population. The relationship between cryptogenic stroke, migraine with aura and PFO has been suggestedin several publications. In the presence of cryptogenic stroke, percutaneous closure of PFO, when shown the existente of a shunt from right to left spontaneously or with the Valsalva maneuver, has been suggested by several authors. However, there is need of more observation time to assess its superiority over medica1 treatment.

Arritmia cardíaca fetal como manifestação inicial de rabdomioma na esclerose tuberosa / Fetal cardiac arrhythmia as an initial indication of rhabdomyoma in tuberous sclerosis

Relata-se caso de esclerose tuberosa (ET) diagnosticada a partir de arritmia cardíaca fetal e múltiplos rabdomiomas cardíacos. A ET é doença autossômica dominante, multissistêmica, com incidência de 1:10000 nascimentos, caracterizada por múltiplos hamartomas em órgãos de origem mesodérmica e ectodérmica. O rabdomioma é o tumor primário do coração mais frequênte na infância, associando-se à ET em 50 por cento dos casos. Outras manifestações incluem epilepsia, retardo mental e alterações compressivas nos órgãos acometidos. A ET tem graves manifestações físicas e psicológicas, exigindo acompanhamento multidisciplinar. Objetiva-se propiciar o entendimento e o reconhecimento da doença, integrando os profissionais envolvidos no seu manejo.

Diagnóstico pela ecocardiografia transesofágica e evoluçäo de 35 pacientes portadores de Flail Mitral Valve / Flail mitral valve leaflet diagnosis by transesophageal echocardiography. Repost and evolution of 35 cases

Objetivo - Descrever os achados ao ecocardiograma transesofágico e evolução clínica de portadores de flail mitral valve. Métodos - No período de janeiro/93 a março/97, 1675 pacientes foram submetidos, em nossa instituição, a ecocardiograma transesofágico, sendo que em 35 casos foi feito o diagnóstico de flail mitral valve e, posteriormente, obtida sua evolução clínica. Resultados - A idade dos pacientes variou 12 a 87 anos (média 65 + 15) e 27 (77 por cento) eram do sexo masculino. O folheto posterior foi o mais acometido (25 pacientes, 71 por cento). O mecanismo do flial foi ruptura de cordoalha tendínea em todos os casos, exceto um, que apresentava importante alongamento e redundância de cordoalha. A etiologia foi prolapso e/ou degeneração mixomatosa em 15 pacientes, degenerativa em 9, isquêmia em 5, reumática em 4 e endocardite em 3. Regurgitação mitral de grau importante ocorreu em 25 (71 por cento) pacientes e moderada em 10 (29 por cento). O tempo médio de acompanhamento foi de 375+395 dias (1 a 1380). Foram submetidos a tratamentoclínico 19 pacientes e a tratamento cirúrgico 16, sendo que em todos foi confirmado o diagnóstico transesofágico. O número total de óbitos (hospitalar e pós-hospitalar) foi alto (34 por cento), tanto em pacientes submetidos a tratamento clínico quanto cirúrgico. Entre os sobreviventes, 17 estão em classe funcional (CF) I e 6 em CF II da NYHA. Conclusão - O diagnóstico de flail mitral valve ao ecocardiograma transesofágico é acurado, permitindo a definição de sua etiologia e mecanismo. A alta mortalidade à época do diagnóstico, provavelmente, se relaciona à gravidade da doença subjacente. Embora os pacientes não operados estejam envoluindo bem, a baixa CF observada nestes pacientes pode ser atribuída ao curto período de seguimento.